Although there was talk of the running back returning to play Friday in the Minnesota Vikings' exhibition game against San Diego, an NFL source said Monday night that the Vikings are planning to keep the Pro Bowl running back on the sideline for their two remaining preseason games.

The Vikings' exhibition finale will be Aug. 30 in Houston.

Peterson has long pointed to being back for the team's regular-season opener on Sept. 9 against Jacksonville and club officials have made it clear that is a realistic possibility. The current plan remains for the Vikings to get Peterson on the field for that game.

Peterson was taken off the active/physically-unable-to-perform list on Aug. 12 after having surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Dec. 30.

Peterson was injured in the Vikings' victory on Dec. 24 at Washington.

Peterson's return to the field in 7 1/2 months is impressive, but ACL injuries usually keep players out eight to nine months and the Vikings have been clear that they have no interest in rushing Peterson back.

Upon Peterson being activated from the PUP list near the end of the Vikings' training camp stay in Mankato, coach Leslie Frazier said the move was simply part of the process for getting him back.

"I want to caution you," Frazier said at the time. "I know there are fans that are very optimistic and excited about seeing him back. But for us, it's just a part of the process. It doesn't mean a whole lot other than he's done a great job in his rehab up to this point, off to the side, with our strength coaches, with (athletic trainer) Eric Sugarman and his staff.

"Our medical staff explained to myself and (general manager) Rick Spielman that the next step for him in the process would be to get integrated with his teammates and that's just what it means. He's done everything he can do on the side and now it's the next step in the process.

"It doesn't mean in the future he's going to be lining up with our team in the opening game. We don't know that. We have a long time to determine that. This is just another step in the process."